JP2003244365A - Image copying device and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To calculate fees in advance when copying an original. <P>SOLUTION: Prior to the copying, the original mounted on an original paper feeding unit 250 is read by a scanner unit 210 and whether the original is a color or monochrome original is determined by an auto-color selecting function provided to a scanner IF in the controller 110. Then, the fees are calculated on the basis of classification of monochrome/color originals, the number of originals and the number of outputs by every size, etc., and presented to a user via an operation part 150, etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image copying apparatus capable of copying, for example, a color original and a monochrome original by a method suitable for each original and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A copying machine uses a large amount of consumables,
Since it is a device that consumes a lot of power during operation, a maintenance contract is concluded between the user and the maintenance company, and the user is charged a fee according to the paper size and number of sheets output as a pay-as-you-go portion of the maintenance cost. Is common. With this charging method, in a color copying machine capable of color reading / output,
Depending on whether the output image is color or black and white, the unit price is changed and the calculation method of charges is changed. Therefore, when copying multiple originals in which color originals and black-and-white originals are mixed using the original feeding device, the originals are colored by determining whether or not there are colored pixels on the originals. It is provided with an automatic color select (ACS) that determines whether it is black or white and switches between color output and black and white output according to the determination result.

[0003]

However, in the conventional charging method, since the charge is calculated according to the output such as the number of pages to be output, color / monochrome distinction, paper size, etc. I couldn't know how much the charge would be before copying. Especially in the case of color copiers that use a coin vendor to charge in advance,
In order to determine the fee to be paid in advance, the user is allowed to select a copying method of color copying or black and white copying. For this reason, the ACS function cannot be used, and when copying a mixed original of color and black and white, the entire original is copied by the selected copying method.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image copying apparatus and a control method thereof capable of calculating a charge required for copying prior to a copying operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image copying apparatus and a control method therefor capable of notifying a user of the calculated charge.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image copying apparatus and a control method therefor capable of reading a document by ACS first, accumulating the image, calculating a charge, and outputting the charge according to a user's instruction.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution.

Image input means, calculation means for calculating the price of the output of the input image data based on the image data input by the image input means, and output of the image data input by the image input means And an output means for

More preferably, the image processing apparatus further comprises a determining means for determining, for each image, whether the image data input by the image input means is color or black and white, and the calculating means has black and white image data. The price is calculated by accumulating the unit price determined according to whether it is color or color and the output size for the number of output pages.

More preferably, it further comprises a storage means for storing the image data input by the image input means, and the output means outputs the image data stored by the storage means.

More preferably, the output means can output the color image data as a color image and the monochrome image data as a monochrome image.

More preferably, the display means for displaying the image data determined as the color image by the determination means as an image, and the desired image among the images displayed by the display means is output as a monochrome image. And an instruction input means for inputting the instruction.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) In the copying machine of the present embodiment, at the time of copying, a user places an original on an original feeding unit and presses a predetermined button such as a copy start button. Then, the placed document is read by scanning and the image data is stored in the hard disk or the like.
Whether each page of the document read at the same time is color / black and white is determined. Since the unit price for copying per page can be determined by the color / black and white and the size to be output, the unit price for each page of the manuscript is determined according to the output size and color / black and white, and integrated. , The copying fee is determined by multiplying the integrated value by the number of copies to be copied. This fee is reported to the user, and the fee is paid in advance by a coin vendor before copying. Then, after confirming that the payment has been made, a copy image is output using the image data stored in the hard disk or the like.

The structure of the copying machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration of Copying Machine (FIGS. 1 and 2)> The overall configuration of the image copying machine 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

A reader unit (image input device) 200 optically reads a document image and converts it into image data. The reader unit 200 includes a scanner unit 210 having a function of reading a document and a document feeding unit 250 having a function of conveying a document sheet.

A printer section (image output device) 300 conveys a recording sheet, prints image data as a visible image on the recording sheet, and discharges the sheet outside the apparatus. The printer unit 300 includes a paper feeding unit 360 having a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes, a marking unit 310 having a function of transferring and fixing image data on the recording paper, and a printed recording paper sorted and stapling to outside the apparatus. Paper output unit 37 that outputs to
It is composed of 0 and.

The control device 110 is electrically connected to the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300, and further, via the network 400, host computers 401 and 402.
Connected with. The controller 110 includes the reader unit 20.
0 is controlled to read the image data of the original, and the printer unit 300 is controlled to output the image data onto a recording sheet to provide a copy function. Further, a scanner function of converting the image data read from the reader unit 200 into code data and transmitting the code data to the host computer via the network 400, converting the code data received from the host computer via the network 400 into image data, A printer function for outputting to the printer unit 300 is provided.

The operation unit 150 is connected to the control device 110, is composed of a liquid crystal touch panel, and provides a user I / F for operating the image input / output system.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the copying machine 100. The document feeding unit 250 of the reader unit 200 feeds documents one by one from the beginning onto the platen glass 211, and ejects the document on the platen glass 211 after the reading operation of the document is completed. When the original is conveyed onto the platen glass 211, the lamp 212 is turned on and the movement of the optical unit 213 is started to expose and scan the original. The reflected light from the original at this time is reflected by the mirrors 214, 21.
5, 216 and a lens 217 guide the image to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 218. In this way, the image of the scanned original is read by the CCD 218.

Reference numeral 222 denotes a reader image processing circuit section,
The image data output from the CCD 218 is subjected to predetermined processing, and the control device 1 is operated via the scanner I / F (see FIG. 3).
Output to 10.

Reference numeral 352 is a printer image processing circuit section,
Control device 1 via printer I / F 145 (see FIG. 3)
The image signal sent from 10 is output to the laser driver.

Laser driver 317 of printer unit 300
Is for driving the laser emission units 313, 314, 315, and 316, and emits laser light corresponding to the image data output from the printer image processing unit 352 to the laser emission unit 31.
3, 314, 315 and 316 are caused to emit light. This laser light is reflected by the mirrors 340, 341, 342, 343, 344,
345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 3
51 to the photosensitive drums 325, 326, 327, 32
8 to the photosensitive drums 325, 326, 327, 3
On 28, a latent image corresponding to the laser light is formed. 321,
322, 323, and 324 are black (B
k), yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M)
Is a developing device for developing a latent image with the toner of each color, and the developed toner of each color is transferred to a sheet to be printed out in full color.

The paper fed from any one of the paper cassettes 360 and 361 and the manual feed tray 362 at the timing synchronized with the start of the irradiation of the laser beam is the registration roller 3
After passing through 33, it is adsorbed on the transfer belt 334 and conveyed. Then, the photosensitive drums 325, 326, 327, 32
The developer attached to No. 8 is transferred to recording paper. The recording paper carrying the developer is conveyed to the fixing unit 335, and the developer is fixed on the image recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 335. Fixing unit 3
The recording paper that has passed 35 is discharged by a discharge roller 336, and a discharge unit 370 bundles the discharged recording papers to sort the recording papers or staple the sorted recording papers.

When double-sided recording is set,
After the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 336, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 336 is reversed and the flapper 337 is rotated.
The sheet is guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 338. Refeeding conveyance path 33
The recording paper guided to No. 8 is fed to the transfer belt 334 at the above timing.

<Explanation of Leader Image Processing Unit (FIG. 4)> FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the detailed arrangement of the leader image processing unit 222.

In the reader image processing section 222, the original document on the platen glass 211 is read by the CCD 218 and converted into an electric signal. If the CCD 218 is a color sensor, the RGB color filter has one line CC
It may be mounted on the D inline in the order of RGB, or may be a 3-line CCD in which R, G, and B filters are arranged for each CCD, or the filter may be on-chip. May have a configuration different from that of the CCD. And
The electric signal (analog image signal) is the image processing unit 222.
Is input to Clamp & Amp. & S / H & A / D section 4
At 01, the sample and hold (S / H) is performed, the dark level of the analog image signal is clamped to the reference potential, amplified to a predetermined amount, A / D converted, and converted into, for example, an 8-bit digital signal for each RGB. Note that the above processing order before A / D conversion is not limited to the notation order. And RGB
The signal is output to the control device 110 after being subjected to shading correction and black correction by the shading unit 402.

<Description of Controller (FIG. 3)> FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the controller 110. The function of the control device 110 will be described based on the block diagram shown in FIG.

The main controller 111 is mainly a CPU
112, a bus controller 113, and various I / F controller circuits.

The CPU 112 and the bus controller 113 control the overall operation of the control device 110.
The U 112 operates based on the program read from the ROM 114 via the ROM I / F 115. The operation of interpreting PDL (Page Description Language) code data received from the host computer and developing it into raster image data is also described in this program and is processed by software. Bus controller 11
Reference numeral 3 controls the data transfer input / output from each I / F, and controls arbitration during bus contention and DMA data transfer.

The DRAM 116 is a DRAM I / F 117.
Is connected to the main controller 111 by
It is used as a work area for the CPU 112 to operate and an area for accumulating image data.

The codec 118 converts the raster image data stored in the DRAM 116 into MH / MR / MMR.
/ JBIG / JPEG or the like, and vice versa, the compressed and accumulated code data is expanded into raster image data. The SRAM 119 is used as a temporary work area of the codec 118. The codec 118 is connected to the main controller 111 via the I / F 120, and data transfer to and from the DRAM 116 is controlled by the bus controller 113 to be DMA-transferred.

The graphic processor 135 is a DRAM
For the raster image data stored in 116,
Image rotation, image scaling, color space conversion, and binarization are performed.

The SRAM 136 is a graphic processor 1.
35 used as a temporary work area.

The graphic processor 135 is an I / F 13
Connected to the main controller 111 via
Data transfer to and from the AM 116 is controlled by the bus controller 113 and is DMA-transferred.

The network controller 121 is an I / F
122 is connected to the main controller 111,
The connector 122 connects to an external network. Ethernet (registered trademark) is generally cited as a network.

The general-purpose high-speed bus 125 has an expansion connector 124 for connecting an expansion board and an I / O controller 126.
And are connected. A general-purpose high-speed bus is generally a PC
I bus is given.

The I / O control unit 126 includes a reader unit 20.
0, Asynchronous serial communication controller 127 for transmitting / receiving control commands to / from each CPU of the printer unit 300
Is equipped with two channels and is connected to the external I / F circuits 140 and 145 by the I / O bus 128.

The panel I / F 132 is connected to the LCD controller 131 and is an I / F for displaying on a liquid crystal screen on the operation unit 150 and a key input I / F 130 for inputting hard keys or touch panel keys. Composed of and.

The operation unit 150 has a liquid crystal display unit, a touch panel input device attached to the liquid crystal display unit, and a plurality of hard keys. The signal input by the touch panel or the hard keys is transmitted to the CPU 112 through the panel I / F 132 described above, and the liquid crystal display unit displays the panel I / F.
The image data sent from F520 is displayed. The liquid crystal display section displays the function display, image data and the like in the operation of the image forming apparatus.

Real-time clock module 133
Is for updating / saving the date and time managed in the device, and is backed up by the backup battery 134.

The E-IDE interface 161 is for connecting an external storage device. In this embodiment, the hard disk drive 16 is connected via this I / F.
0 is connected to store image data in the hard disk 162 or read image data from the hard disk 162.

The connectors 142 and 147 are connected to the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300, respectively, and are connected to the synchronized step serial I / F (143, 148) and the video I / F.
(144, 149).

The scanner I / F 140 has a connector 142.
It is connected to the reader unit 200 via the reader unit 200, and is also connected to the main controller 111 via the scanner bus 141, and has a function of performing a predetermined process on an image received from the reader unit 200.
It also has a function of outputting a control signal generated based on the video control signal sent from 00 to the scanner bus 141.

Data transfer from the scanner bus 141 to the DRAM 116 is controlled by the bus controller 113.

The printer I / F 145 has a connector 147.
Is connected to the printer section 300 via the printer bus 146, and is also connected to the main controller 111 by the printer bus 146. The function of performing predetermined processing on the image data output from the main controller 111 and outputting the image data to the printer section 300 is provided. It also has a function of outputting a control signal generated based on the video control signal sent from the printer unit 300 to the printer bus 146.

The transfer of the raster image data expanded on the DRAM 116 to the printer unit is controlled by the bus controller 113, and DMA is sent to the printer unit 300 via the printer bus 146 and the video I / F 149.
Transferred.

<Description of Image Processing Unit of Scanner I / F (FIG. 6)> A detailed description will be given of a portion of the scanner I / F 140 which is responsible for image processing. FIG. 6 shows the scanner I / F 140.
3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a portion responsible for image processing of FIG.

The image signal sent from the reader unit 200 via the connector 142 is subjected to the joint processing and MTF correction by the joint and MTF correction unit 601. CC
When the D218 is a three-line CCD, the reading positions between the lines are different, so the connection processing adjusts the delay amount for each line according to the reading speed, and corrects the signal timing so that the reading positions of the three lines are the same. It is a process to do. The MTF correction is a process of correcting the change because the MTF (modulation transfer function) of reading changes depending on the reading speed.

The input masking unit 602 applies the spectral characteristics of the CCD 218, the lamp 212 and the mirrors 214, 215 to the digital signal whose signal timing has been corrected.
The spectral characteristic of 216 is corrected. Input masking unit 60
The output of 2 is sent to the ACS counting unit 405 and the main controller 111.

<Description of ACS Counting Unit (FIG. 5)> AC
The S (auto color select) counting unit 603 will be described with reference to FIG.

Automatic color select (ACS) section 6
03 determines whether the original is color or black and white. That is, the saturation for each pixel is obtained, and it is determined whether the pixel is color or black and white depending on how many pixels having the saturation equal to or higher than a certain threshold exist (this determination is hereinafter referred to as ACS determination). However, even in a black-and-white original, a large number of color pixels exist around the edge when viewed microscopically due to the influence of MTF and the like, and it is difficult to simply perform ACS determination in pixel units. Although various methods are provided as the ACS determination method, since the present embodiment does not focus on the ACS determination method, a general method will be described.

As described above, even in a black-and-white image, there are a large number of color pixels when viewed microscopically. Therefore, whether or not the pixel is really a color pixel depends on the information of the peripheral color pixels with respect to the pixel of interest. It is necessary to judge with. Filter 50
Reference numeral 1 denotes a filter for that purpose, which has a FIFO structure for referencing peripheral pixels with respect to a target pixel. The area detection circuit 502 is provided from the main controller 111 to the register 5
This is a circuit that creates an area signal 505 for ACS (target of ACS determination) based on the values set in 07 to 510 and the video control signal 512 sent from the reader unit 200. The color determination unit 503 determines whether the pixel of interest is a color pixel or a black-and-white pixel by referring to the peripheral pixels in the memory in the filter 501 for the pixel of interest based on the area signal 505 to which ACS is applied. The counter 504 is a color determination unit 503.
Is a counter that counts the number of color determination signals output by.

The main controller 111 determines the area to which ACS is applied to the reading range, and sets the data for specifying the area in the registers 507 to 510 (in this embodiment, the range is determined independently for the original. Take composition). In addition, the main controller 111 uses a counter 5 that counts the number of color determination signals in the area to which ACS is applied.
The value of 04 is compared with a predetermined threshold value to determine whether the document is color or black and white.

In the registers 507 to 510, a video control signal sent from the reader unit 200 is provided with a position at which the color determination unit 503 starts the determination and a position at which the determination is ended in each of the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. It is set based on 512. In the present embodiment, the size of each original is set to be smaller by about 10 mm.

As described above, the ACS counting unit 603
For a certain area of a read original image, if the number of pixels having saturation exceeding a predetermined threshold value in the image data is a certain number or more, the original is a color original, and if not, it is a black and white original. judge.

<Explanation of Image Processing Unit of Printer I / F (FIG. 7)> Detailed description will be given of a portion of the printer I / F 145 which is responsible for image processing. FIG. 7 shows the printer I / F 145.
3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a portion responsible for image processing of FIG.

The image signal sent from the main controller 111 via the printer bus 146 is first input to the LOG converter 701. In the LOG converter 701, the LO
RGB signals are converted to CMY signals by G conversion. Next, the moire removing unit 702 removes the moire. 703 is UC
The CMY signal that has been subjected to the moire removal processing in the R & masking unit is generated into a CMYK signal in the UCR processing, and is corrected to a signal suitable for the output of the printer in the masking processing unit. UC
The signal processed by the R & masking unit 703 is the γ correction unit 7
After the density is adjusted in 04, smoothing or edge processing is performed in the filter unit 705. Through these processes, the image is sent to the printer unit 300 via the connector 147.

<Explanation of Graphic Processor (FIG. 8)>
The graphic processor 135 will be described in detail. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the graphic processor 135.

The graphic processor 135 has modules for performing image rotation, image scaling, color space conversion, and binarization. The SRAM 136 is used as a temporary work area for each module of the graphic processor 135. SRA used by each module
It is assumed that a work area is statically allocated in advance for each module so that the work area of M136 does not conflict. Graphic processor 135 is I /
It is connected to the main controller 111 via the F137, and data transfer to and from the DRAM 116 is controlled by the bus controller 113 and is DMA-transferred.

The bus controller 113 performs control for setting a mode and the like in each module of the graphic processor 135 and timing control for transferring image data to each module.

<Description of Image Rotating Unit> The image rotating unit 8 will be described below.
The processing procedure in 01 is shown.

Settings for image rotation control are made from the CPU 112 to the bus controller 113 via the I / F 137. With this setting, the bus controller 113 makes settings necessary for image rotation (for example, image size, rotation direction / angle, etc.) to the image rotation unit 801. After the necessary settings are made, the CPU 112 sets the bus controller 11 again.
The image data transfer permission is given to No. 3. In accordance with this permission, the bus controller 113 starts the transfer of image data from the DRAM 116 or a device connected via each I / F.

Here, the image size to be rotated is set to 32.
Pixels × 32 lines are used, and when image data is transferred to the image bus 2008, image transfer is performed in units of 24 bits (each pixel of 8 bits of RGB is one pixel).

Assuming that the pixels are arranged in raster order in the image data, as described above, in order to obtain an image of 32 pixels × 32 lines, the above-mentioned unit data transfer is 3 times.
It is necessary to perform 2 × 32 times, and it is necessary to transfer image data from discontinuous addresses.

The image data transferred by the discontinuous addressing is written in the SRAM 136 so as to be rotated at a desired angle at the time of reading. For example, 90
If it rotates counterclockwise, the transferred image data is written along the Y direction. X when reading
The image is rotated by reading in the direction.

Image rotation of 32 pixels × 32 lines (SRA
(Writing to M136) is completed, the image rotation unit 80
1 reads the image data from the SRAM 136 by the above-mentioned reading method and transfers the image to the bus controller 113.

The bus controller 113 that has received the image data that has undergone the rotation processing performs continuous addressing,
Data is transferred to the DRAM 116 or each device on the I / F.

This series of processing is repeated until the processing request from the CPU 112 is exhausted (when the processing for the required number of pages is completed).

<Explanation of the image scaling unit> The image scaling unit 8 will be described below.
The processing procedure in 02 is shown.

The CPU 112 sets the bus controller 113 via the I / F 137 for image scaling control. With this setting, the bus controller 113 makes settings necessary for image scaling in the image scaling unit 802 (such as scaling in the main scanning direction, scaling in the sub-scanning direction, and image size after scaling). After making the necessary settings, the CPU 11
The permission of image data transfer is given from 2 to the bus controller 113. According to this permission, the bus controller 11
3 starts transfer of image data from the DRAM 116 or a device connected via each I / F.

The image scaling section 802 temporarily stores the received image data in the SRAM 136, and uses this as an input buffer, and the number of pixels required for the stored data in accordance with the scaling factor of main scanning and sub-scanning. By performing interpolation processing for the number of lines to enlarge or reduce the image, scaling processing is performed. The scaled data is written back to the SRAM 136 again, and the image scaling unit 802 uses this as an output buffer for S.
The image data is read from the RAM 136 and transferred to the bus controller 113.

The bus controller 113 which has received the image data that has been subjected to the scaling processing is operated by the DRAM 116 or I / O.
Transfer data to each device on F.

<Explanation of Color Space Conversion Unit> The processing procedure in the color space conversion unit 803 will be described below.

Settings for color space conversion control are made from the CPU 112 to the bus controller 113 via the I / F 137. With this setting, the bus controller 113 sets the color space conversion unit 803 and the LUT (look-up table) 804 necessary for the color space conversion processing (coefficients for matrix calculation described later, table values of the LUT 804, etc.). After making the necessary settings, the CPU 11
The permission of image data transfer is given from 2 to the bus controller 113. According to this permission, the bus controller 11
3 starts transfer of image data from the DRAM 116 or a device connected via each I / F.

The color space conversion unit 803 first calculates, for each pixel of the received image data, 3 × represented by the following equation.
3 matrix operation is performed.

[0077]

[Equation 1]

In the above equation, R, G, B are input, X,
Y and Z are output, a11, a12, a13, a21, a2
2, a23, a31, a32, a33, b1, b2, b
3, c1, c2, and c3 are coefficients. Various color space conversions such as conversion from the RGB color space to the Yuv color space can be performed by the calculation of the above equation.

Next, the data after the matrix calculation is converted by the LUT 804. This also allows non-linear conversion. Of course, by setting the through table, it is possible to substantially avoid the LUT conversion.

After that, the color space conversion unit 803 transfers the image data subjected to the color space conversion processing to the bus controller 113. The bus controller 113 that receives the image data that has been subjected to the color space conversion processing is
Transfer data to each device on F.

<Explanation of Image Binarization Unit> The processing procedure in the image binarization unit 805 will be described below.

Through the I / F 137, the CPU 112 sets the bus controller 113 for binarization control. With this setting, the bus controller 113 sets the image binarization unit 805 necessary for binarization processing (various parameters according to the conversion method). After making the necessary settings, the CPU 112 sets the bus controller 113 again.
Permission to transfer image data to the. In accordance with this permission, the bus controller 113 starts the transfer of image data from the DRAM 116 or a device connected via each I / F. The image binarization unit 805 binarizes the received image data.

In this embodiment, the binarization method is as follows.
The image data is simply binarized by comparing it with a predetermined threshold value. Of course, any method such as a dither method, an error diffusion method, or an improved error diffusion method may be used.

After that, the image binarization unit 805 transfers the binarized image data to the bus controller 113. The bus controller 113, which receives the binarized image data, transfers the data to the DRAM 116 or each device on the I / F.

<Original Scan Sequence (FIG. 9)>
FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the procedure of document scanning in this embodiment.

Incidentally, S1001 to S1011 in the figure indicate respective steps.

When performing copying, in S1001, the user makes copy settings for the copy image output job on the operation unit 150. The copy settings include the number of copies, paper size,
One-sided / two-sided, enlargement / reduction ratio, sort output, presence / absence of stapling, and the like.

When the user gives a copy start instruction from the operation unit 150 in S1001, the process proceeds to S1002.

In S1002, the main controller 111 of the control device 110 instructs the document feeding unit 250 to feed the document, and in response to this, the document feeding unit 2
The numeral 50 rapidly sends one placed original onto the platen glass 211, and at the same time, detects the size of the original.

In S1003, the main controller 11
Reference numeral 1 controls the reader unit 200 via the scanner I / F 140 and the connector 142 to perform an operation of reading image data of a document.

Here, the image data is read by exposing and scanning the document based on the size of the document detected in S1002. Read image data is DRAM
Stored on.

At this time, the image data is input to the ACS determining section in the scanner I / F 140 at the same time as the DRAM 116, and it is determined here whether the image is a color original or a black and white original.

In the conventional copying machine, the magnification in the sub-scanning direction is changed by changing the moving speed of the optical unit 213 according to the setting of the enlargement / reduction ratio of the copy setting, that is, in accordance with the magnification change in the sub-scanning direction. Processing was realized.

However, in the copying machine of this embodiment,
Regardless of the enlargement / reduction ratio setting of the copy setting, the image data is always read at the same size (100%), and the scaling process is performed by the graphic processor 135 described below in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. And

In step S1004, the ACS determination result is acquired from the scanner I / F 140 and stored in the DRAM 116.

In step S1005, in order to perform image processing on the image data on the DRAM 116, the DRAM 116
The image data is transferred from the image processor 135 to the graphic processor 135.

In step S1006, the graphic processor 1
35 performs image processing based on the copy setting parameters. For example, when the enlargement is set to 400%, the image scaling unit, which is a module in the graphic processor 135, is used to perform scaling processing in both the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. When the image processing of the image data is completed, the process proceeds to S1007.

In step S1007, the graphic processor 1
35 transfers the image data after the image processing to the main controller 111. The main controller 111 stores the transferred image data on the DRAM 116.

In S1008, in order to record the image data, the image data after the image processing is transferred from the DRAM 116 to the image data.
Transfer to the hard disk drive 160 via the E-IDE interface 161.

In step S1009, page attributes such as the ACS determination result and document size are recorded in a specific area on the DRAM 116. This page attribute is associated with the page number, and the main controller 111 can acquire the page attribute by designating the page number.

In S1010, it is determined whether or not there is a next original. If there is the next original, the process advances to step S1011 and the main controller 111 issues an original replacement instruction to the original feeding unit 250. And S1001
Then, the process returns to and the next document is read. When there is no next original, the reading of the original ends.

<Charge Calculation> After the document reading is completed, the charge required for image printing is calculated. First, the number of color pages and the number of black and white pages are calculated from the page attributes obtained by reading the document in FIG. Next, a charge for printing is calculated from color / black and white, output paper size, number of original pages, number of output copies, and the like. This fee calculation process is
It can be performed by the CPU 112 of the control device 110. For example, 1 depending on whether color / monochrome or not and output size
A charge can be calculated by holding a table that can specify the unit price per page and accumulating the unit price of each page determined by the table for the pages to be output.

Then, a display prompting the user to pay the calculated fee is displayed, and when the coin vendor is connected to the control device 110, the fee is notified to the coin vendor and notified. When the paid fee is paid, a notification to that effect is received from the coin vendor. Then, after that notification, or when a button operation or the like is performed in addition to the notification, a copy image is output as described below.

<Sequence at the time of image output> FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the image output procedure in this embodiment.

Incidentally, S1201 to S1205 in the figure indicate respective steps.

In S1201, the image data recorded on the hard disk 160 is transferred to the DRAM 116 via the E-IDE interface 161, and stored therein.

In S1202 and S1203, the main controller 111 controls the printer unit 300 via the printer I / F 145 and the connector 147 and transfers the image data on the DRAM 116 to the printer unit 300 at an appropriate timing. Then, in S1204, actual image output is performed.

In S1205, it is determined whether or not there is a page to be printed next, and if there is a page, the process returns to S1201 to continue image output. If there is no page to be printed next, the process ends there.

As described above, the copying machine according to the present embodiment can calculate the charge for the original in which the color original and the black-and-white original are mixed before the copying is executed. Therefore, even for a coin-vendor type copier that requires payment of charges in advance, it is possible to realize a copy suitable for an original by using the ACS function by charging and paying the calculated charge before executing the copy. it can. Further, by saving the image data, which is the basis for distinguishing between a color original and a black-and-white original, and using it for copy output, it is possible to read the original once.

[Second Embodiment] As a second embodiment, a procedure for displaying the calculated charge for copying will be concretely shown. Further, in the copying machine of this embodiment, the read original image can be reduced and displayed, and the attribute of each page can be changed. The copying machine according to the present embodiment has all the configurations of the copying machine according to the first embodiment.
In addition to that, by the CPU 112 of the control device 110,
The procedure shown in FIG. 10 is executed after the charge calculation process of FIG. 9 is completed.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the charge display operation and operation. In addition, 1101 to S in the figure
Reference numeral 1116 indicates each step. In step S1101, the number of color pages and the number of monochrome pages are calculated from the page attributes obtained in the document reading procedure of FIG.

In step S1102, a charge for printing is calculated from the number of color / monochrome pages, the output paper size, the number of output copies, and the like.

In S1103, the calculated charge is added to the operation unit 1
Display on the LCD touch panel of 50. FIG. 12 shows the state of display. Here the calculated charge 21
01 together with soft key 2 for instructing output start
102 and a soft key 2103 for instructing a list display of the read image data are displayed, and in S1104, a key input from the user is awaited.

If the key input from the user is the "list" key 2103 in step S1104, the flow advances to step S1111.
Display a list of color pages. FIG. 13 shows the display. In FIG. 13, the thumbnail image 2201 is created from the read image data of the color page stored in the hard disk. The user can identify which original image each thumbnail is by seeing the thumbnail image 2201. Further, each of the thumbnail images 2201 is a soft key, and the user can select an image. This is called a thumbnail key.

In step S1112, a key input from the user is awaited. If any of the thumbnail keys 2201 is pressed in S1112, the process proceeds to S1112, and the confirmation screen shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. On the confirmation screen, two soft keys 2301 and 2302 of "Yes" and "No" are arranged.

In step S1114, the user waits for a key input. If the "Yes" key 2301 is pressed in S1114, the flow advances to S1115 to calculate the page number corresponding to the thumbnail image pressed in S1112. And S1
At 116, the ACS determination result included in the attribute of the page having the page number is changed from color to black and white, and S11
Returning to step 11, the page list is displayed again.

If the "No" key 2302 is pressed in S1114, the process returns to S1111 to display the page list.

If the "return" key is pressed in S1112, the flow advances to S1102 to recalculate the charge if there is a page whose attribute is changed as described later, and then returns to the charge display screen of FIG.

On the other hand, when the "start output" key 2102 is pressed in S1104, the user is urged to pay the fee to the coin vendor or the like, and the fee is waited. In the case of being inserted, for example, the inserted fee is notified from the coin vendor. In response, in S1106,
It is calculated whether or not the entered fee is greater than the calculated fee, and if not, in S1107, a screen is displayed in which the entered amount is deducted from the calculated fee and the amount is charged as an insufficient fee. As long as the charge is insufficient, the processes of S1105-S1107 are repeated. If the amount of money put in is higher than the initially calculated charge, then FIG.
Then, the procedure shifts to the procedure of FIG. 11 and the output is started. In addition, when the change is generated, the change may be notified to the coin vendor and the change processing may be performed.

By the procedure as described above, in addition to the effect obtained by the copying machine according to the first embodiment, the copying machine according to the present embodiment manually changes the page determined to be a color original by ACS to black and white. The effect that it can be output is produced. Of course, at that time, for the page changed to black and white, the changed fee can be presented to the user. This allows the user to correct the determination result even if the original black and white original is erroneously determined to be color by ACS.
Further, even when it is desired to output a part of the color original in black and white, it is possible to output them without dividing them into originals for color output and black and white output.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.), a device composed of one device (for example, copying machine, facsimile). Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) recording a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer of the system or apparatus ( Alternatively, it is achieved by the CPU or MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention. Become.

Moreover, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It also includes a case where a CPU or the like included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0126]

As described above, according to the present invention, A
The fee can be calculated by reading the document using CS.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the present apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a reader unit and a printer unit of this apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device unit of the present device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a leader image processing unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an ACS counting unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a portion related to image processing of a scanner I / F.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a portion related to image processing of a printer I / F.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a graphic processor.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a sequence at the time of reading a document.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a charge display and an operation procedure.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a sequence during image output.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a charge display operation display screen.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of an operation display screen of a page list.

FIG. 14 is a diagram of an operation confirmation screen.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 1/46 H04N 1/46 C F term (reference) 2H027 DA45 DB01 EJ06 FA05 FA28 FA35 FD08 GB01 GB13 ZA07 2H030 AB02 AD07 AD08 AD09 BB02 BB21 BB43 5C062 AA05 AB17 AB23 AC21 AC58 AE03 AF07 AF08 AF10 BA04 5C079 HA13 HB01 LA02 LA10 LA31 NA17 PA02

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An image input unit, a calculation unit for calculating a price of output of the input image data based on the image data input by the image input unit, and image data input by the image input unit. An image copying apparatus comprising: an output unit that outputs 2. The image data input by the image input means is further provided with a determination means for determining for each image whether the image data is color or black and white, and the calculation means has the image data whether the image data is black and white or color. 2. The price is calculated by multiplying the unit price determined according to the output size and the output size, and calculating the price.
The image copying apparatus described in 1. 3. The storage device further comprises storage means for storing the image data input by the image input means, and the output means outputs the image data stored by the storage means. 2. The image copying apparatus described in 2. 4. The image copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit can output color image data as a color image and monochrome image data as a monochrome image. 5. A display means for displaying as image the image data determined to be a color image by the determination means, and an instruction for outputting a desired image of the image displayed by the display means as a monochrome image. The image copying apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an instruction input unit for inputting. 6. An input control means for causing a computer to input an image by means of the image input means, and a calculation means for calculating the price of the output of the input image data based on the image data input by the image input means. And a computer program for realizing an output control unit that causes the image output unit to output image data. 7. The computer further implements a determination unit that determines, for each image, whether the image data input by the image input unit is color or black and white, and the calculation unit causes the image data to be black and white. 7. The computer program according to claim 6, wherein the unit price is calculated by multiplying the unit price determined according to the output size and whether the value is the color or the color, and calculating the price. 8. The computer further realizes a storage unit for storing the image data input by the image input unit, and the output unit outputs the image data stored by the storage unit. The computer program according to claim 6 or 7. 9. The computer program according to claim 6, wherein the output control means can output the color image data as a color image and the monochrome image data as a monochrome image. 10. A display means for displaying, as a image, image data determined by the determination means to be a color image by a computer, and a desired image of the images displayed by the display means is output as a monochrome image. The computer program according to claim 7, which further realizes an instruction input means for inputting an instruction for performing the instruction. 11. An input step of scanning an image to input image data, a determination step of determining for each image whether the image data input by the image input step is color or black and white, An image copying apparatus comprising: a calculation step of calculating a consideration for output of input image data based on a determination result; and an output step of printing out the image data input in the input step. Control method.